AND ON SHOEING. 325 



adopt the best method of shoeing. But it is to 

 be observed, that short shoes can only be appUed to 

 such race-horses' feet as have ah'eady been describ- 

 ed. They must not on any account be applied to 

 horses' feet that are thin and weak, or that have low 

 heels; neither can they be worn by horses that are be- 

 come at all feeling in their feet, being what is common- 

 ly called, a little groggy, be their feet of whatever 

 strength they may. By way of experiment, I have put 

 short shoes on horses' feet thus diseased, and they could 

 scarcely move in them; but on taking off the short shoes 

 and putting on the long ones of more than common 

 substance and cover, the same horses have afterwards 

 gone comparatively sound; and this arises from the 

 substance and cover of the shoe diminishing in a great 

 degree the concussion produced by the horse's weight 

 when in action and going over hard ground. 



If short shoes of substance and cover, are found to 

 answer the purpose of preventing concussion and con- 

 traction taking place in strong feet, there can be no 

 objection to their use in other respects; for it is to be 

 observed, that race-horses when in training, are not 

 going a rapid pace down very steep or slippery hills, or 

 on sideland ground, as horses often are that are hunt- 

 ing; and when race-horses are pulled up in concluding 

 either their gallops or sweats, it is almost at all times 

 on level ground, or if otherwise, it is on ground ascend- 

 ing instead of descending, so that there is no danger to 

 be apprehended from their slipping in pulling up if 

 their heels are sound and strong. However, as short 



